Crystal Palace and Hull both have poor FA Cup records

Past performances bode well for Leicester and Newcastle fans

Crystal Palace vs. Leicester City
League One leaders Leicester have recorded nine wins in their last eleven games, and are unbeaten since October. Palace, meanwhile, have avoided defeat in nine of their last ten games so something has to give. Neil Warnock’s side have won their last three at home but have been knocked out at the third round stage in 17 of the last 24 seasons.

Newcastle vs. Hull City
Hull have lost their opening round tie in five of the last six years and have only won one of their last thirteen games whilst Newcastle have failed to reach the fourth round in only one of the last five years. This is the sixth time these clubs have been drawn together in the FA Cup. Newcastle lead 4-1 and Hull will be hoping they can improve on that record by reaching the fourth round for the first time since 1989.

Research for this article was provided by Danny Harris

Posted: January 14th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Is the rise in away wins a result of poor home support?

chickendinner tries to pinpoint why there are more away wins

As part of chickendinner’s ongoing investigation into why away wins are at an all-time high in the top-flight, we are looking at some of the clubs who are better at home and some who are better away in an attempt to identify why this is the case:

Better at home

Manchester United
The champions have won their last six home league games and as the atmosphere hasn’t been too spectacular this year when chickendinner correspondents have visited, it could be that the main reason for their advantage is a fear factor. It could be that most teams go to Old Trafford believing that a draw is as good as they can get and set their stall out to defend. However, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, it’s very rare that teams that set-up in such a way don’t get breached in the end, as Sunderland found out the other week.

Fulham

Posted: December 18th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Sunderland relegation odds tumble following Keane’s exit

Black Cats fall below Blackburn as third-favourites for the drop

Paddy Power have cut Sunderland’s odds on being relegated this season from 12/5 to 2/1 following Roy Keane’s resignation earlier today.

Their problems could worsen when they travel to Old Trafford at the weekend but after that they face a trio of vital games against West Brom, Hull and Blackburn from which they could all plausibly take points.

That set of fixtures combined with the possibility of new manager syndrome - see Harry Redknapp at Spurs - could turn Sunderland’s fortunes around but it’s difficult to judge until Roy Keane’s successor is announced. Sam Allardyce is the favourite and is now as low as 5/4 with Bet365.

Click here for all the latest odds.

Posted: December 4th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Manchester United and Chelsea may both fail to win this weekend (Part One)

Man City/Man Utd, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

It was a slight shock last weekend when both Chelsea and Manchester United failed to win but one which was tempered slightly by Arsenal and Liverpool’s slip-ups. However, when both came up short again in the Champions League, it was almost enough to peddle hysterical talk of crises in the tabloids. To suggest that it is even remotely possible for Chelsea and Manchester United to both go without victory for the third time in nine days is tantamount to blasphemy but chickendinner is going to do just that and argue why both clubs will be disappointed again. First of all, here are six reasons why the champions won’t win away to their nouveau riche neighbours:

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1. Manchester City won both Manchester derbies last season, winning the home encounter 1-0 before completeing the double with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford - United’s only home league defeat that season.

Posted: November 28th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Fashion news: the 3pm kick-off is making a comeback

None of tomorrow’s five Premier League games are on TV!

With the Manchester derby and Chelsea/Arsenal both televised on Sunday and Liverpool held off until Monday, there are no games deemed worthy of the hallowed lunchtime or early evening slots taking place on Saturday, meaning that all five fixtures will kick off at the once-fashionable time of 3pm. Rather than leaving you confused about what to expect from tomorrow’s games, chickendinner has previewed every game to help you decide who to put on your accumulators:

Aston Villa v Fulham
It would be typical of Villa to go from beating Arsenal and drawing with Manchester United to losing at home to Fulham so victory in this game would go a long way to establishing their credentials for sustaining a top-four push. However, Martin O’Neill’s side have won none of their four home games against top-half sides this season, drawing three and losing one. Fulham are no longer pushovers away from home as last weekend’s draw at Anfield showed and they have lost just one of their last seven Premier League games. Last season, the home side won both of these encounters but before that they drew five successive clashes and a draw (11/4 with Paddy Power) could be on the cards again.

Middlesbrough v Newcastle

Posted: November 28th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Cristiano Ronaldo no longer scores on his travels

But sadly for Stoke, he nets more than ever at Old Trafford

Last season Cristiano Ronaldo managed to score ten goals in seventeen Premier League away games but in this campaign all seven of his goals have come at Old Trafford, despite the fact he has played just 35 minutes more at home this season than he has on the road.

Ronaldo has scored in his last ten domestic home games which comes as really bad news for this weekend’s visitors Stoke, especially considering he has already scored three goals against fellow newly-promoted sides West Brom and Hull.

All his four goals in United’s last two home league games all came in the first-half, with both openers in the first fifteen, making the 5/2 that SkyBet offer on him scoring a quicker goal than Fernando Torres, Nicolas Anelka, Darren Bent, Nicklas Bendtner and Obafemi Martins on Saturday look very appetising.

Posted: November 13th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment